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PROJECT UPDATE POLLUTION CONCERNS
Chemplast Sanmar to commission paste PVC RSPL’s soda ash unit served closure notice by GPCB

expansion project in current fi scal Amid complaints by farmers that nudge by the Gujarat High Court to the The closure notice stated that during

the soda ash manufacturing plant of GPCB after the sarpanch of coastal the inspection visits, it was found
Chennai-based Chemplast Sanmar PVC unit and its Custom Manufactured RSPL Ltd. in the Devbhumi Dwarka Kuranga village, who is also a farmer, that RSPL had not complied with its
Ltd. expects to commission its paste Chemicals Division (CMCD) unit at district has been causing pollution, moved the court. NOD of 2022 even as the company
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) expansion Berigai (Tamil Nadu). The CMCD the Gujarat Pollution Control Board contended that the farmers were not
project in Cuddalore by the fourth produces advanced intermediates in (GPCB) has issued a closure notice to The farmers led by Mr. Balubha cooperating.
quarter of the current fi nancial year, pharmaceutical and agrochemical the fi rm known for its brand of Ghadi Ker, the village sarpanch, had sub-
the company informed in an investor markets. Phase 1 of the CMCD pro- detergent. GPCB’s Jamnagar unit mitted complaints to the GPCB. The notice said that not only land
presentation. ject was commissioned during the fi rst issued the closure notice to RSPL In March 2023, Mr. Ker moved the and water pollution, but air pollution
half of this fi scal. Ltd.’s (formerly known as Rohit Sur- High Court with a special civil appli- was also noted. RSPL has been asked
“The 41-ktpa (kilo tonne per factants Pvt. Ltd.’s) soda ash manu- cation (SCA), alleging that the state to comply within 30 days with the
annum) paste PVC project is expected Custom-manufactured chemicals facturing plant on January 12. pollution watchdog was not acting directions in the November 2022 NOD,
to start commercial production in Q4 On the phase II expansion project, against the unit despite complaints. submit a time-bound action plan for
of FY2024. This will further cement the company said it was expected to be The company has been warned of its implementation, and submit a bank
our position as the leading paste PVC completed in the fi rst quarter of FY25. a shutdown if it fails to take correc- The unit has the monthly capa- guarantee equivalent to 10 percent of
producer in India,” said the company’s The two-phased expansion project is tive measures within 30 days sugges- city to produce 40,300 metric tonnes the estimated cost of activities men-
Managing Director, Mr. Ramkumar aimed at expanding capacity from ted in the GPCB’s Notice of Direction of soda ash, which is used widely tioned in the action plan. If the com-
Shankar. The company’s existing faci- 1,068-tpa to 4,500-tpa. (NOD), which was issued on Novem- in manufacturing glass, detergents, pany fails to comply with the order,
lity has a capacity of 66-ktpa. ber 23, 2022. and cosmetics. In its closure notice, its power connection will be cut and
“In our CMCD’s business, the the GPCB cited inspection reports it will not be allowed to run and ope-
“Despite the recent uncertainty in However, he noted that the boom in pipeline is healthy. We commercia- The closure notice to Gujarat’s prepared after visits to the unit by rate even on power generated by its
the industry, we are confi dent of the the infrastructure and real estate sec- lised three new products this year and largest single-location soda ash manu- offi cers authorised by the GPCB on 50-megawatt captive power plant or
long-term potential of all our businesses tors is driving demand for PVC. “We a number of products are under various facturing plant came following a October 5, and December 9, 2023. diesel-fi red power generator sets.
and are strengthening our capabilities expect a gradual recovery in prices and stages of development. Despite the
and relationships to grow in a sustain- margins over the next 2-3 quarters. The challenges on account of the downturn Allnex begins work on Mahad expansion project
able manner,” he said. other chemicals business is also expected in the global agrochemicals industry
to witness improvement in prices in and the consequent inventory ration- Allnex, the German coating resins
Consolidated net loss the next 3-4 quarters once the excess alisation, we expect this business to maker owned by Thailand’s PTT Global
Chemplast Sanmar has reported a supply is absorbed by the market,” deliver a reasonable growth during the Chemical, recently broke ground on an
consolidated net loss of Rs. 89.38-crore, he added. year. While commercial production expansion project at its site in Mahad,
during the third quarter (October- from phase 1 of the expansion project Maharashtra.
December 2023). The consolidated Last year, Chemplast Sanmar had has commenced, phase 2 is expected to
profi t after tax for the corresponding said it would invest Rs. 1,000-crore be completed in Q1 FY25,” informed “This milestone underscores our
quarter of last fi nancial year stood at for expanding capacities of the paste Mr. Shankar. commitment to providing our custo-
Rs. 27.14-crore. mers in APAC with an even broader
“After a relatively better second Clean Science and Technology’s range of top-quality products and ser-
vices,” the company said in a social
quarter, Q3FY24 performance ran into media post. Details of products and
heavy weather due to further correction subsidiary opens new light stabiliser capacities were not immediately known.
in PVC prices on account of dumping
from China and other countries, slow plant in Pune Allnex had, in March 2022,
down in other chemicals (caustic soda, acquired the Mahad site and coating facility specialises in the production Iyer, Vice President, Allnex India, had
chloromethanes) business due to the Clean Science and Technology Ltd. facturing facility in Kurkumbh, Pune. resins business from D.R. Coats Ink & of liquid resins and additives, including stated that the site had room for expan-
over-supply situation in India, increase (CSTL), a fi ne and specialty chemi- “The commercial production of Hindered Resins Pvt. Ltd. (DRC). solvent-borne acrylics & alkyds, sion, which would allow the company
in key feedstock, prices and adverse cal manufacturing fi rm, has announced Amine Light Stabilisers (HALS) will besides aminos and polyesters. “to further expand and introduce other
impact of the lag effect in correction of that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Clean commence in due course,” the company The Mahad site is Allnex’s fi rst self- technologies for local production in the
VCM prices,” Mr. Shankar said. Fino-Chem Ltd., has opened a new manu- informed. owned manufacturing site in India. The After acquiring the site, Mr. Siva near future.”

142 Chemical Weekly February 27, 2024 Chemical Weekly February 27, 2024 143

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